Dredge-tractor.



F. P. LEACH.

DREDGE TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. 1911.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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F. P. LEACH.

DREDGE TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. 1917.

Patented. Dec. 31,1918.

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F. P. LEACH.

DREDGE TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, I917.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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F. P.-LEACH.

DREDGE TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED man. 3|. 1911.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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BV%%M I m& f J/W 4 A TTORNE Y FRANK P. LEACI-I, 0F GOLDENGATE, ILLINOIS.

DREDGE-TRACTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed March 31, 1917. Serial No. 159,014.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. LEACH, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Groldengate, in the county of Wayne and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dredge-Tractors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in dredge tractors of the class used for supporting dredges, excavators, power shovels and similar heavy machinery, and moving the same about as the operation proceeds. The object of the improvement is to construct a dirigible tractor adapted to be propelled by force derived from the machinery it supports, and to be steered in its course by posltioning the supporting parts as propulsion takes place.

The object of the invention s accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whlchz Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device including a portion of the excavating apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the device on the line at of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view projected from F1gs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar plan view showing one of the supporting tractor sleds advanced 1n position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective new of the spreader;

Fig. 6 is a" perspective view of one of the insertible blocks used in conjunction with the spreader;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the supporting tractor;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in transverse sections on the line y of Fig. 1 showing the rear end of the platform in supported position; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the supporting cross-beam for the rear end of the platform.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and referring now to the same:

1 and 2 are supporting tractor-members each consisting of a frame-work of timbers resembling somewhat the form of a sled. These members are arranged substantially in parallel relation to each other and are connected loosely together at their forward portions by a spreader 3 consisting of a beam having at its ends yoke-straps 1 through which pins 5 extend, the latter being anchored in the timbers of the respective frames. The straps 4-. are of suflicient length as to allow limited play of the pins therein so that the forward sliding movement of one sled relative to the other will be permitted to some extent. The yokes are also propor tioned so as to admit of the lodgment therein of blocks 6 between the respective pins 5 and the adjacent ends of the beam of the spreader which limits the play of the pins 5 in the yokes. WVhen thus limited the spreader has the effect of laterally shifting the tractormembers as they are alternately progressed. When the blocks areremoved, however, the spreader does not have the effect of pushing the tractor-members apart as they are being moved because of the play then afforded the pins in the yokes.

A cross-beam 7 having slots 8 near its ends is arranged in connection with the upper rear portion of the two tractor members. Stakes 9 securely fixed respectively to the members extend loosely through the slots 8 in the cross-beam and the slots being elongated admit of limited play of the stakes therein. A socket bearing 10 is superposed upon the cross-beam 7 between the outer timbers of the respective tractor-members and affords pivotal support for the rear end of the platform 11, there being a pendant lug 12 extending into the socket bearing that is secured to a tie-beam 13 which extends laterally beneath the platform proper- The lower face of the cross-beam 7 and the upper faces of the timbers 14 upon which the cross-beam rests are faced with chafing-plates 15 and 16 respectively for the purpose of resisting wear occasioned by the oscillating movements of the cross-beam.

A king-bolt 10 extends through the tiebeam 13 and bearing members 12 and 10, and also through the cross-beam 7, which serves to hold the rear portion of the platform from dislodgment.

In the forward upper portions of the tractor-members is arranged a sliding cross-beam 17, the outer ends of which project beyond the sides of the tractor-members and have fixed thereon pillars 18 that support a tiebeam 19 which extends laterally beneath the forward part of the platform. The lower faceof the cross-beam 17 and the upper faces of the timbers 14: upon which the cross-beam rests are faced respectively by chafing-plates 20 and 21 for the purpose of resisting wear that is occasioned by the sliding movements of the tractor-members. Chafing-plates 22 are also provided for resisting wear between the inner ends of the pillars 18 and adjacent upper timbers 23 of the respective tractormembers. The pillars 18 on the cross-beam 17 serve to limit the front end of the platform in its sliding support upon the tractormembers the pillars being spaced apart to admit of lateral play of the tractor-members corresponding to the limitations imposed by the spreader 3.

Movement is imparted to the tractormembers by means of two tackle-rigs 24 and 25 respectively, the forward ends of each being connected with vertical stakes 26 and 26 at the forward portions of the corresponding members, and at their opposite ends to similar stakes 27 and 27. The cable 28 leading from the tackle-rig 25 extends forwardly to the idler 29 and from thence to a winding drum 30 that forms a part of the power mechanism of the dredge apparatus, and the cable 31 leading from the tackle-rig 2 1 extends rearwardly to the idler 32 and from thence to the winding drum 33 which rotates oppositely to that of the former drum. operation of the drums, the cable 28 will be drawn around the drum 30 while the cable 31 will be proportionately unwound, and vice-versa. The effect of the operation of the tackle-rigs is that, when the cable 28 is wound upon its drum 30, the tackle-rig 25 is contracted and the tractor-member 1 will consequently be drawn forwardly, while the cable 31 will become unwound from its drum 33 so as to admit of the necessary expansion of the tackle-rig 24. The other tractormember 2 is progressed in the same fashion by the tackle-rig 24 when its cable 31 is wound upon the drum 33. By thus alternately expanding and contracting the tacklerigs, the tractor-members are made to progress in successive stages accordingly. The cross-beam 7 is oscillated by the alternate movements of the tractor-members, the corresponding stakes 9 serving alternately as pivotal points. The platform supported upon the cross-beam is carried upon its bearing thereon and moved accordingly. The cross-beam 17 that supports the forward end of the platform slides upon its hearings in the forward portions of the tractor-members as the platform is shifted by the action of the cross-beam 7.-

Upon the platform 11 is mounted a powerplant 34:, cable-winding apparatus 35, and a turn table 36, the latter supporting a boom 37, all of which may be of the customary type and construction. An A-frame 38 surmounts the apparatus its feet being attached to the extending ends of the tie-beam The intention is that in the 19 so as to be supported thereupon. Lateral spud-s 39 having feet 40 at their lower ends are arranged in connection with the A- frame, and each spud has braces 41 connected therewith which are attached also to the corresponding tractor-member.

The spuds and their appurtenances and the manner of their connection with the present apparatus are herein shown as an example of apparatus that may be used in conjunction with the present construction. Other means for affording lateral support may :be substituted for the specific form of the example without departing from the scope of this invention.

In operating the device it is the intention to place uponone of the tractor-members a greater portion of the weight of the supported platform and machinery while moving the other tractor-member. Therefore the boom 37 is thrown to one side so that its weight will be borne principally by the tractor-member on the same side of the machine, and the tractor-member upon theopposite side will be correspondingly relieved. The latter tractor-member may then be readily-shifted by operating the corresponding tackle-rig. The boom is then turned around to the opposite side so that a greater burden is placed upon the latter tractor-member, and the former when thus relieved, may be readily shifted as in the former instance. By eflecting a succession of such operations'the apparatus as a whole may be moved about as the excavating operations proceed.

\Vhen it becomes necessary to shift the course of the apparatus, the blocks 6 are introduced in the yokes so that when one of the tractor-members is advanced it will be forced by the spreader away from the other tractormember. Thus by swinging the boom from side to side, and .sliding the tractor-members alternately by operating the tackle-rigs, the apparatus as a whole may bemaneuvered about as occasion may require.

What I claim is 1. In apparatus of the class described, two supporting tractor-members; an oscillating cross-beam connecting the tractor-members at the rear parts thereof and having pivotal relation therewith; a sliding cross-beam bearing in the forward parts of said tractormembers; a platform having fixed relation with the sliding cross-beam and pivotal support upon the oscillating cross-beam; a tackle-rig for each tractor-member connecting the forward part thereof with the rear part of the other tractor-member; and means for manipulating the tackle-rigs.

2. In apparatus of the class described, two supporting tractor-members; an oscillating cross-beam connecting the tractor-members at their rear parts; a sliding cross-beam bearing in the forward parts of said tractormembers; a platform supported by the crossbeams; means having connection with the tractor-members for propelling the same alternately; and a spreader connecting the two tractor-members.

3. In apparatus of the class described, two tractor-members arranged side by side and adapted to be progressed in successive stages alternately; a cross-beam having pivotal connection with each of the tractormembers; the platform having means for sliding support on the tractor-members and having connection also with said cross-beam between its pivotal onnections by means of Which movement is imparted to the platform accordingly as the cross-beam is actuated; a spreader connected at its respective ends with said tractor-members; and means for actuating the tractor-members.

4:. In apparatus of the class described, two sliding tractor-members arranged side by side; a platform having means in connection therewith affording sliding support at one end thereof upon the tractor-members; an oscillating cross-beam having pivotal connections near its ends respectively with the tractor-members and afiording at its center pivotal support for the other end of the platformaconnecting means between the crossbeam and platform adapted to impart movement from the former to the latter; excavating mechanism including a power generator and a boom mounted upon the platform, said boom being adapted to be turned from one side to the other to thereby impose the preponderance of the weight of the platform and its load upon one or the other of the tractor-members accordingly as the boom is positioned; and means for propelling one of said tractor-members while the preponderance of weight is borne by the other.

5. In apparatus of the class described two sliding tractor-members arranged side by side; a platform having means in connection therewith for sliding support upon the tractor-members; an oscillating cross-beam connecting the tractor-members and having connecting means with the platform for imparting movement thereto; a spreader connecting said tractor-members and adapted to direct lateral movement to the respective tractor-members as they are propelled; means for shifting the preponderance of weight of the platform and its load from one tractor-member to the other; and means for propelling one tractor-member while the preponderance of weight is borne by the other.

6. In apparatus of the class described, two tractor-members arranged to be progressed alternately; a transverse beam having sliding support in each of the tractor-members; an oscillating cross beam having pivotal connections at its ends respectively with the corresponding tractor-members; a platform having fixed support upon the transverse beam and pivotal support near its opposite end upon the oscillating beam and being adapted to be progressed thereby as the latter is oscillated by the progression of the tractor-members; and means having connection with the tractor-members for propelling the same alternately.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK P. LEACH.

Witnesses:

ROBERT D. MURPHY, JAMES R. VIRGIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

